Barrettes

ABSTRACT

A popular type of barrette is described having a rigid bar, a tongue generally parallel to the bar, and a resilient strip between the bar and the tongue for gripping a lock of hair. There is a latch in the form of a resilient member upstanding from the bar having a latching top over the end of the tongue when in use. A finger-piece extends from the latching tip lengthwise away from the tongue. Squeezing the finger-piece toward the bar swings the latching tip in an arc approximately at right angles to the squeezing force, releasing the latched end of the tongue.

United States Patent Goodman [54] BARRETTES [72] inventor: Jacob Goodman, New York, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: H. Goodman 8: Sons, Inc., Kearny,

[22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 117,460

Related [1.8. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 742,336, July 3,

1968, abandoned.

521 U.S. Cl. ..132/48 R [51] Int. .Cl. ..A45d 8/24 [58] Field of Search ..132/48 R, 48 A; 24/259 AC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,513,166 6/1950 Goodman ..132/48 A 2,921,589 1/1960 Blomme ..132/48 R 1 Dec. 26, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 21,446 1920 France ..132/48R 1,176,353 1959 France ..132/48R [57 ABSTRACT A popular type of barrette is described having a rigid bar, a tongue generally parallel to the bar, and a resilient strip between the bar and the tongue for gripping a lock of hair. There is a latch in the form of a resilient member upstanding from the bar having a latching top over the end of the tongue when in use. A finger-piece extends from the latching tip lengthwise away from the tongue. Squeezing the finger-piece toward the bar swings the'latching tip in an arc approximately at right angles to the squeezing force, releasing the latched end of the tongue.

10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures BARRETTES This is a continuation-in-part ofapplicants copending application Ser. No. 742,336 filed July 3, 1968, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to barrettes.

Over the years, there has been a large amount of effort and ingenuity devoted to producing various designs of barrettes, which are intended to hold and to be securely supported by a lock of hair. The mechanism of a barrette has to be sturdy, both because of the significant weight of usual barrettes and in order to hold the barrette securely in position in the wearers hair. When the barrette is being put on, the tongue is pressed against the hair, and it latches. The latch must be secure, yet released easily and located by only a sense of touch. The whole barrette should be economical to make and durable in use.

An object of the present invention is to'devise a new barrette that meets the foregoing requirements.

A further object resides in providing barrettes having novel releasing-means that is highly effective, yet simplified, as compared with the releasing means in known barrettes.

The foregoing objects and others are accomplished in the illustrative embodiments of the invention described in detail below and shown'in the accompanying drawings. In these illustrative barrettes, there is a relatively large and rigid bar that is curved from end to end, and has its mechanism at the concave side. The I mechanism includes first and second spaced-apart upstanding parts and a tongue. One of the upstanding parts provides a hinge and the other of these upstanding parts is a latch for the other end of the tongue. A resilient strip extends along the tongue and this strip is normally bowed toward the tongue, except that the strip is deformed resiliently when a lock of hair is gripped between the tongue and the strip. Firm pressure is developed by the tongue against its latch, directed away from the bar. One of the first and second upstanding parts is resilient and has a finger piece that extends along the bar and away from the end of the tongue. By squeezing the finger piece toward the bar, the upstanding resilient part is flexed at and near the bar so that the latch tip moves in an are along the tongue, thus releasing the engagement of the tongue and the latch. While in broad concept the upstanding hinge part could be resilient and the finger piece could extend from the upstanding hinge part, remote from the latched end of the tongue, the finger piece in the preferred embodiment is an integral portion of the upstanding resilient latch. The finger piece is readily recognized by touch, so that the barrette is easily removed. The latch is strong and secure when the barrette is being worn. The mechanism of the barrette is uncomplicated, its parts are a minimum, and the resulting barrette is well suited to achieve the objects of th invention;

The nature of the invention, including the foregoing and other objects, novel features and advantages, will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description of a few illustrative embodiments that are shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the presently preferred em bodiment of certain aspects of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the embodiment in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a view of a component of FIGS. 1 and 2, viewed as in in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of another component part of FIG. 2, partly in cross-section; FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the component in FIG. 4 in its initially flat condition, after stamping but before being bent into the form of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 1, parts 10, 12 and 18 being shown in longitudinal cross-section;

FIG. 6A' is a modification of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, viewed from the plane 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 isa fragmentary side view of a modification of the embodiment in FIGS. 1-7;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side and rear views, respectively,

of a further modification; and

FIG. 1 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross-section, showing part of a component in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, viewed as in FIG. 10.

The presently preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. l-7. It includes four parts: a rigid bar 10, usually of plastic; a strip 12 of resilient metal having integral upstanding end parts 16 and 18; a resilient metal strip 20 normally bowed away from bar 10; and a tongue 22 having a hinge connection 24 to upstanding part 16. Upstanding part 18 is formed as a latch for the end of tongue 22 remote from hinge 24. Strip 20 biases tongue 22 outward.

Metal strip 12 acts as a base for the operating parts. It is relatively wide and provides firm support against lateral shifting of the latching tip 18a. Three integral eyelets 12a are embedded in plastic bar 10, to secure the metal strip 12 to bar 10. A finger piece 18b extends generally parallel to bar 10 and lengthwise away from the end of the tongue. When finger piece 18b is squeezed toward bar 10 (see arrow S), the force flexes resilient upstanding latch 18. At first, prominent bending occurs farthest from finger piece 18b, at and near a first fulcrum F When a bend in upstanding member 18 reaches bar 10, further finger pressure causes further bending to occur, mainly at fulcrum F Latching tip 18a swings in a releasing are A along tongue 22 so that latch 18 assumes the dotted-line position in FIG. 6. This are A results from the location of the latching tip 18a at a substantial distance R from bar 10, approximately opposite fulcrum F, and almost directly opposite to fulcrum F The effective length L, of the latch 18 including finger piece 18b acts as a lever (FIG. 6) to impose bending force at and near the fulcrums. The lever length is considerably greater than the effective radius R of the latching tip 18a. All things considered, upstanding part 18 is proportioned as to its width, thickness and resilience so that, when finger piece 18b is pressed toward bar 10, latching tip 18a shifts in the releasing direction which is generally along tongue 22 and parallel to bar 10. The stiffness of the upstanding latch 18 is less than that of the broad strip of resilient metal that forms member 12, since latching tip 18a is carried by two relatively slender, spacedapart supporting bands 18c.

Finger piece 18b is taken from the material left by the cuts that form bands (FIG. 5). Another portion of the available material between bands 180 is used to provide a locating slot l8e for a reduced end portion 20a of bowed spring 20. A similar slot (not shown) is provided in upstanding hinge part 16 to receive the opposite end part 20a (FIG. 3) of strip 20.

The provision of two fulcrums F and F tends to minimize the stresses imposed on the joint between bar and member 12 at the eyelet 12a nearest latch 18 when the latch is squeezed. As seen in FIG. 6A, a slightly modified latch 18' causes bend 18g to touch bar 10' normally. Squeezing the finger piece causes the greatest amount of bending at and near bend 18g, at the greatest lever length from the finger piece 18!). The action is nearly the same as in FIG. 6. When the finger piece is depressed, latch tip 184' moves generally along tongue 22 in the releasing direction, approximately perpendicular to a radius from bend 18g to the latch tip.

When the barrette is open and is being closed, hinge 24 provides a good measure of control for constraining tongue 22 against sidewise shift. Hinge 24 guides tongue 22 to swing about the axis of pivot 24, toward latching tip 18a. Squeezing of tongue 22 against the top of latch tip 18a causes the tongue to snap under the latch. When the closing force applied to the tongue is released, the tongue is arrested by latch tip 18a. Two small hooks 18f forming part of latch 18 act as positive stops that prevent sidewise shift of the latched end of the tongue. The constraint of tongue 22 by hinge 24 is such that it would take a large amount of force to swing the latched end of the tongue laterally out of position under latch 18, large enough so that permanent deformation of the hinge would probably result from such a force. I v

The operation of the barrette in FIGS. l-6 (as well as that in FIG. 6A) is most satisfactory It is readily closed on a lock of hair by forcing the tongue toward bar 10. Latch 18 yields and then snaps into latching position over the end of the tongue.

In use, tongue 22 and strip tend to spread apart as represented in FIG. I in dotted lines. Tongue 22 is normally curved so as to be, in a sense, parallel to the curved bar 10, but when a lock of hair is engaged, tongue 22 becomes more nearly straight. This increases its effective length and increases the amount of latch engagement.

When the barrette is to be removed, the wearer feels for the finger-piece of the latch. Moderate pressure serves to swing the latching tip 18a clear of the tongue. Despite the increased extent of latch engagement due to straightening of the tongue, the latch is readily released by only moderate squeeze of the finger-piece toward bar 10. The finger-piece is very easily found by touch alone, and the latch is easily released for removing the barrette. The rigidity of bar 10 and the flexibility of part 18 along its length and especially at and near bar 10, plus the configuration of the resilient upstanding part with its lateral finger-piece, contribute to this result.

Various modifications of the latch are presently con templated. In FIG. 8, the whole upstanding part constituting latch 118 is looped outward and back relative to the end of the tongue so as to incorporate the fingerpiece 18b of FIGS. 17, and latching tip 1 18a is almost directly opposite the single fulcrum F. The upstanding part 118 is reduced to two resilient bands at and near bar 10 like bands 2180 shown in FIG. II, was to be flexible toward and away from the end of the tongue 5 jects through this slot. The stripcoacts with the latch as a finger-piece. This part of the hair-clamping strip,

forming a finger-piece, increases the length of the latch-releasing lever, promoting easy release of the latch. In FIG. 9, the'member 12 is fixed to bar 10 by short nails or rivets, rather than by eyelets 12a of FIG. 1. The barrettes of FIG. 8 and FIGS. 9-11 are otherwise of the same construction as in FIGS. 1-7, and therefore the detailed review of their operation is omitted as superfluous. t

The illustrative embodiments of the invention described in detail above are effective in demonstrating the various novel features of the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize a further latitude of variation. Thus, some or all of the parts described above as being of metal can be made of suitable plastics. Consequently, the invention should be construed broadly in accordance with its full spirit and scope. i I

What is claimed is:

l. A barrette including a relatively rigid elongated bar, an elongated tongue, first and second upstanding parts spaced apart along said bar and having respective first and second operative portions, and a resilient strip extending along and between said bar and said tongue, one of said operative portions being hinged to one end of said tongue and the other of said operative portions being a latching tip releasably engageable with part of the tongue remote from the hinged end thereof, a portion of said first upstanding part remote from said first operative portion being resilient and being positioned relative to said first operative portion so that the latter swings in an arc lengthwise of the tongue when said resilient portion flexes, said tongue when latched being adapted to grip a lock of hair against said resilient strip, said first upstanding part having an actuating fingerpiece extending to a position spaced from said bar and .displaced lengthwise away from the tongue, said actuating finger-piece further being displaced from a line extending through said resilient portion and perpendicular to said bar, so that squeezing the finger-piece toward the bar deflects said first operative portion and releases said tongue.

2. A barrette including a relatively rigid bar, first and second upstanding parts spaced apart along said bar, a

, greatly elongated tongue having one end hinged to said first upstanding part, and a resilient strip extending along and between said bar and said tongue, said second upstanding part being a latch having a latching tip spaced substantially from said bar and releasably engageable with an end portion of the tongue remote from said hinged end, a portion of said latch remote from said latching tip being resilient and being positioned relative to said latching tip so that said latching tip swings in an arc lengthwise of said tongue when said resilient portion bends, said tongue when latched being adapted to grip a lock of hair against said resilient strip, and said latch having an actuating finger-piece extending to a position spaced from said bar and displaced lengthwise away from said tongue, said finger-piece further being displaced from a line extending through said resilient portion and perpendicular to said bar so that squeezing the finger-piece toward the bar causes said latching tip to release said tongue.

3. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first and second upstanding parts are end portions of a single metal strip having an elongated portion that extends along and is secured to said bar.

4. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second upstanding part comprises a pair of laterally spaced-apart bands of resilient metal joined together remote from said bar and carrying said latching tip.

5. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second upstanding, part comprises a pair of laterally spaced-apart resilient bands joined together remote from said bar and carrying said latching tip and wherein said finger-piece extends integrally from said latching tip at a point between said spaced-apart bands.

6. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said resilient portion of said latch has a formation adjacent said bar coacting successively with two parts of the bar that act as fulcrums when the finger-piece is squeezed toward the bar.

7. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein an end portion of said strip extends through and beyond a slot in said latch and forms said finger-piece.

8. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said latch includes a U-shaped loop constituting said finger-piece.

9. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein the effective length of the finger-piece measured from the point where the second upstanding part projects from the bar is much greater than the spacing between the bar and said latching tip.

10. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said latch includes a pair of steps integral therewith and disposed at opposite sides of the tongue when in latching cooperation therewith. 

1. A barrette including a relatively rigid elongated bar, an elongated tongue, first and second upstanding parts spaced apart along said bar and having respective first and second operative portions, and a resilient strip extending along and between said bar and said tongue, one of said operative portions being hinged to one end of said tongue and the other of said operative portions being a latching tip releasably engageable with part of the tongue remote from the hinged end thereof, a portion of said first upstanding part remote from said first operative portion being resilient and being positioned relative to said first operative portion so that the latter swings in an arc lengthwise of the tongue when said resilient portion flexes, said tongue when latched being adapted to grip a lock of hair against said resilient strip, said first upstanding part having an actuating finger-piece extending to a position spaced from said bar and displaced lengthwise away from the tongue, said actuating fingerpiece further being displaced from a line extending through said resilient portion and perpendicular to said bar, so that squeezing the finger-piece toward the bar deflects said first operative portion and releases said tongue.
 2. A barrette including a relatively rigid bar, first and second upstanding parts spaced apart along said bar, a greatly elongated tongue having one end hinged to said first upstanding part, and a resilient strip extending along and between said bar and said tongue, said second upstanding part being a latch having a latching tip spaced substantially from said bar and releasably engageable with an end portion of the tongue remote from said hinged end, a portion of said latch remote from said latching tip being resilient and being positioned relative to said latching tip so that said latching tip swings in an arc lengthwise of said tongue when said resilient portion bends, said tongue when latched being adapted to grip a lock of hair against said resilient strip, and said latch having an actuating finger-piece extending to a position spaced from said bar and displaced lengthwise away from said tongue, said finger-piece further being displaced from a line extending through said resilient portion and perpendicular to said bar so that squeezing the finger-piece toward the bar causes said latching tip to release said tongue.
 3. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first and second upstanding parts are end portions of a single metal strip having an elongated portion that extends along and is secured to said bar.
 4. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second upstanding part comprises a pair of laterally spaced-apart bands of resilient metal joined together remote from said bar and carrying said latching tip.
 5. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second upstanding part comprises a pair of laterally spaced-apart resilient bands joined together remote from said bar and carrying said latching tip and wherein said finger-piece extends integrally from said latching tip at a point between said spaced-apart bands.
 6. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said resilient portion of said latch has a formation adjacent said bar coacting successively with two parts of the bar that act as fulcrums when the finger-piece is squeezed toward the bar.
 7. A barrette in accOrdance with claim 2, wherein an end portion of said strip extends through and beyond a slot in said latch and forms said finger-piece.
 8. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said latch includes a U-shaped loop constituting said finger-piece.
 9. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein the effective length of the finger-piece measured from the point where the second upstanding part projects from the bar is much greater than the spacing between the bar and said latching tip.
 10. A barrette in accordance with claim 2, wherein said latch includes a pair of steps integral therewith and disposed at opposite sides of the tongue when in latching cooperation therewith. 